Flush tank



1,518,990 L. LISSON I FLUSH TANK Filed April 12, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 1 L. LISSON FLUSH TANK 1 i r p A d B l Dgc. 9, 1924.

L. LISBON Fhusnmmi 3 Sheets-Suee'c 3 Filed Apl 12, 1924 Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES LOUIS LISSON, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGN'OR OF ONE-HALF TO IRVING J. BERIVIAN, 0F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

FLUSH TANK.

Application filed April 12, 1924. Serial No. 706,061.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS LIssoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flush Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in flush-tanks, designed for use in connection with water-closets, and the like, and has for its object to provide a novel and simple reservoir and valve structure, wherein the reservoir is charged continuously with direct pressure, and wherein the discharge of the water for flushing the closet is also effected under the pressure of the water supply system. A further object is to provide a novel valve mechanism, which is arranged to withstand the water pressure during the non-flushing periods, and which may be opened by the user of the closet for effecting the discharge of the reservoir; the valve being closed automatically to cause the accumulation of the next flushing charge, without assistance from the user. And a further object is to provide a flushing reservoir wholly made of metal, and adapted to be disposed and concealed within the usual hollow wall adjacent the water-closet.

I attain these objects by the means set forth in the detailed description which follows, and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section, taken on line 11 of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a detached view of the worm-shaft by which the valve is operated. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1; showing by full lines the valve in the closed position, and by dotted lines the opening of the valve. Fig. 4. is a broken sectional view of the valve casing; showing the valve open for effecting the discharge of the flushing Water. Fig. 5 is a detached view of the lever that operates the valve and related parts.. Fig. 6 is a broken front elevation of the tank; showing the operating strokes of the lever. Fig. 7 is a detached elge View of the valve. Fig. 8 is an elevational View of thevalve-guide, with parts broken away for showing the worm-threads. Fig. 9 is a front face view of the valve seat. Fig. 10 is respectively a rear face and an edge view of the valve seat. And Fig. 11

is a reduced view of a modified form of the tank.

In the drawings, the flushing apparatus comprises a relatively large circultr reservoir 2, and a relatively small circular portion 3, the said parts being disposed one above the other, and being connected by means of a throat or neck 2. 4 represents an inlet or filling pipe, which rises from an opening 3 in the bottom of the portion 3, and discharges the flushing water near the top of the reservoir 2. The portion 3, which comprises the leg of the reservoir, is also provided with a relatively large bottom opening 3, which serves as the outlet for the flushing charge. 5 represents an integral cylindrical housing, which extends horizontally into the leg 3, to a point just beyond the outlet 3", with which it communicates. The opposite end of the housmg 5 projects a considerable distance beyond the front wall of the reservoir. The inner end of the cylinder 5 is open and threaded internally, as at 5, while its outer end is externally threaded, as at 5*, and is closed by a screw-cap 6. The valve which controls the flushing operations, as well as its operating parts are all carried by the housing 5, and comprise the following parts:

7 represents a circular valve seat, which is threaded externally for screwing into the inner end of the housing 5, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4C. The seat 7 is provided with a central opening 7, which is preferably of considerable larger area than the outlet 3*, through which the flushing fluidp-asses from the leg 3 into the housing 5, and thence towards the outlet. The side of the seat 7 facing the cap 6 is formed with a number of concentric corrugations 7 vhich receive the correspondingly formed meeting face of a circular valve 8. By this particular construction and arrangement of the valve and seat, I am able to effect a strong seal for resisting the normal pressure of the water system, which obtains in the reservoir, when the valve is closed. The valve 8 is provided with a circumferential groove 8?. The valve 8 is supported and operated by a hollow cylindrical member or guide 9, which operatively fits the interior of the housing 5, and is slidable therein, by means of a plurality of keys or splines 10, which are preferably rigidly mounted in external longi- 5 of the reservoir by the pipe 4.

tu'dinal grooves 9 of the guide; the said splines being slidable in corresponding ways 5 of the housing. The valve 8 partially telescopes the open end 9 of the guide, and the valve is held in place and allowed a certain amount of creeping or rotation, for the purpose of self-adjustment relatively to the seat 7, by a series of screws or pins 12 carried by the member 9, and whose free ends play in the annular groove 8. The valve and its support 9 are movable horizontally as one part, towards and away from the seat 7, by means of a worm-shaft 13, one end of said shaft being provided with spiral ribs or threads 13, which engage corresponding threads or grooves 9 which are formed in a central opening 9 of the guide. The pitch of the threads 9 and 13is such that, the partial rotation of the worm-shaft 13, as by the depressing of a hand-lever 14 (see Figs. 1 and 6), opens the valve 8 to the extent shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, and by the full lines in .Fig. 4, for releasing the flushing charge from the reservoir 23. The member 9 supports the inner end of the wormshaft 13; the outer end of said shaft being normally supported by the cap 6. The shaft 13 is directly supported between the cap 6 and the member 9, by a ball-bearing mechanism 15, one member 15 of which is rigidly applied to a conical portion 13 of the shaft, while the other member 15 of said bearing is rigid in a conical socket 6 of the cap. Beyond the cone 13*, the shaft 13 is reduced and threaded, as at 13, to receive a Washer 16 and a nut 17, by which the shaft may be adjusted relatively to the bearing 15. The lever 14 has an eye, which is serrated, for adjustably applying the lever to a corrugated portion 13 of the shaft. This provision is made for facilitating the shifting of the lever, a few degrees in either direction relatively to the reservoir 2, for convenience in handling the lever.

The lever 14 is held in the operative position by means of a washer 18, and a nut 19 which screws on to the extreme outer end ofv the shaft 13. Tension for forcing and holding the valve 8 seated against the pres sure of the water in the reservoir 2-3, is suppliedby a coil spring 20, which is disposed between the guide 9 and the ballbearing (see Fig. 3). The manual rock g ing of the worm-shaft 13, in the direction foropening the valve 8, moves the valve and thegui'de towards the right and correspondingly compresses the spring 20. If the operator liolds the lever 14 depressed for a fewjseconds, while the flushing is being effected, and then lets go the lever, the spring 20 will force the member 9 and the valve in the opposite direction and effect the [seating of the valve and the refilling This closing movement of the valve by the expansion of spring 20, also lifts the lever 14, as from the dotted line to the full line position, shown in Fig. 6, ready for the nextfiushing operation. A packing-ring 9 carried by the guide 9 (see Fig. 3), serves to prevent leakage of the water past the guide. To gain access to the valve and seat, as well as to the other operating parts disposed in the cylinder5, it is only necessary to unscrew and remove the cap 6 and withdraw the several parts. 1 L

Y The flushing apparatus illustrated by Figs. 1, 3 and 6, is intended to be; concealed in a hollow wall of a toilet-room, and only the projecting portion of the housing 5 will be exposed in the room. For this-purpose, the reservoir is preferably plain and unfinished exteriorly. When the entire ap-Z paratus is exposed in theroom, the reservoir is preferably more ornamental, as shown in Fig. 11, and-its external surfaces are, either plated and polished, or else suitably enameled. Otherwise, the device of Fig. 11 follows the same construction and arrangement, as shown in the preceding v1ews. Having thus describe-d my invention, what I claim, is q r 1. A flushing apparatus comprising a main reservoir and a depending hollow portion connected by a throat, the depending portion having an inlet and an outlet open: ing in its bottom, a hollow cylinder formed within the depending portion, having an open end positioned between said inlet and said outlet openings, a valve seat partially closing said open end, a valve in said cylinder for controlling the discharge of. the. flushing medium through the outlet, means for manually opening the valve, and-tension means for closing the valve. g Y 2. A flushing apparatus including a reservoir having inlet and'outlet openings in its bottom, a cylindrical housing disposed horizontally in the reservoir, a valve seatcarried by the housing and locatedbetween said openings, a valve in said housingfor controlling said outlet, worm shaft jfor reciprocating said valve, tension means for preventing the flushing fluid from passingv from the reservoirto the outlet, and means. for manually opening said valve against said tension. a

3. In a flushing apparatus, a reservoir and a leg connected by a throat, said leg having inlet and outlet openings in its bottom, a housing disposed below said throat, one end of said housing extending lfltO tlledegfibe yond said outlet opening, a valve-seat in the; end of the housing, a cylindrical guide in the housing, a valve adjustably supported by said guide concentrically in said housing, a worm for reciprocatingsaid guide, and a hand-lever for rocking said Worm.

4. A flushing apparatus comprising a main reservoir and a hollow leg connected by a narrow neck, the said leg having inlet and outlet openings in its bottom, a hollow cylinder disposed concentrically in the leg and having a threaded open end adjacent the outlet opening, a valve seat screwed into said end, a valve reciprocatable in said cylinder and controlling said outlet opening, a worm-shaft operatively connected with said valve, a lever for operating said shaft, and tension means for automatically closing said valve.

5. A flushing apparatus comprising a reservoir having a reduced bottom portion, the latter portion being provided with inlet and outlet openings, a hollow cylinder in the reduced portion extending from a point between said openings to a point beyond the front wall of said portion, the inner end of said cylinder being open, a valve seat detachably applied to said open end having a central opening through which the flushing fluid passes from the reservoir into the cylinder and thence towards the outlet opening, a valve reciprocatable in said cylinder and controlling said outlet, a worm for unseating said valve, a lever for operating said worm, and tension means for reseating said valve.

6. In a flushing apparatus, a reservoir, a housing projecting into said reservoir having an outlet opening in its bottom, a valve seat in the end of the housing adjacent said outlet, a valve in said housing movable relatively to said outlet, a reciprocatable guide in the housing and telescopically receiving said valve, means for effecting the creeping of said valve relatively to the guide, a worm for reciprocating said guide and said valve, a lever for moving the guide in the direction for opening the valve, and tension means for moving said guide in the opposite direction and for holding the valve seated against the pressure in said reservoir.

7. In a flushing apparatus, a drumshaped reservoir adapted to be disposed in a hollow wall having a depending housing projecting beyond the face of the wall, a portion of said housing extending beneath the reservoir, the said depending portion being provided with bottom inlet and outlet openings, a reciprocatable guide in said housing adapted to control said outlet opening, a valve seat supported by the inner end of the housing, a valve supported by said guide, a worm-shaft disposed concentrically in said housing and operatively engaging said guide, means for manually operating said worm for opening said valve and for moving said guide away from said outlet, and tension means engaging said guide for closing said outlet.

8. In a flushing apparatus, a reservoir, a housing below the reservoir, the axes of said reservoir and said housing being parallel, said housing having an outlet opening, a valve seat closing the inner end of the housing, a valve in said housing for controlling the passage of the flushing fluid from the reservoir to said housing, the axes of the valve and said outlet being at right angles, a support for said valve reciprocatable in the housing, a cap closing the outer end of the housing, a worm-shaft supported by said cap and the valve support adapted when rocked in one direction to open the valve, and tension means disposed between the cap and the valve support for moving the valve in the opposite direction, and for rocking the worm-shaft in the reverse direction for stopping the flushing operation.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LOUIS LISSON. 

